Canja de galinha
Chicken and rice soup
Canja: comforting Brazilian chicken and rice soup with carrot and parsley
Canja came to Brazil from Portugal and became the soup every Brazilian mother makes when someone is ill, the traditional food for new mothers during the resguardo after childbirth and, oddly, a favourite at the end of long parties. Chicken is simmered with onion and garlic, then shredded back into the broth with rice, carrot and potato, and finished with parsley and spring onion. It's gentle and filling. Chef's tip: cook the rice in the broth only until just tender; it keeps swelling in the bowl.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the soup
- 1 ¾ lb bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticksskin removed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onionchopped
- 3 cloves garlicchopped
- 8 ¼ cups water
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 carrotsdiced
- 1 potatodiced
- 3 ½ oz long-grain white ricerinsed
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 4 tbsp parsley and spring onion (cheiro-verde)chopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 2: Add the 1 ¾ lb bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks, 8 ¼ cups water, 1 bay leaf and 2 tsp salt. Bring to a gentle simmer, skim off the foam and cook for 35 minutes until the chicken reaches 165°F and pulls easily from the bone.
35 minStep 3: Lift out the chicken, shred the meat and discard the bones.
5 minStep 4: Add the 2 carrots, 1 potato and 3 ½ oz long-grain white rice to the broth and simmer for 15 minutes until just tender. Letting it bubble on is a common mistake: the rice turns the soup into porridge.
15 minStep 5: Return the chicken, season with the ¼ tsp black pepper and stir in the 4 tbsp parsley and spring onion (cheiro-verde). Serve hot.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 22 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does canja de galinha take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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